Peter Jackson's Hobbit sequel gains $131 million overseas

By Iain Alexander / 15 December 2013

Hobbit fever at the box office

'The Hobbit : The Desolation of Smaug' has sailed to an impressive $131 million at the box office overseas after just a few short days.

Midnight screenings for the second instalment of The Hobbit franchise pulled in $8.8 million, which was not a record-breaking opening, but a very strong opening for a December release.

At the U.S domestic box office, Peter Jackson's epic adventure has earned $73 million over the weekend, which puts it behind the first movie.

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So far, the total global box office tally for the film is estimated at $204 million. The film is likely to pass the $450-500 million mark by the end of its run. Could this match the previous film's total?

Fans have certainly not been disappointed in the sequel. According to Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers gave the film a positive 74%.